Wall switch

Abstract

This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wall switch controller, comprising:
 a docking station configured to receive a user-removable wall-switch head unit, the docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-voltage wires; 
 the user-removable wall-switch head unit configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing; 
 wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with a plurality of low-powered devices using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates and to serve as a communications bridge to a wide area network using a second wireless protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates; and 
 a power storage module for storing power and using the power to maintain wireless communications during a power outage. 
 
     
     
       2. The wall switch controller of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. 
 
     
     
       3. The wall switch controller of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor. 
 
     
     
       4. The wall switch controller of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 circuitry for leveraging electrical power from the household line current power inputs to power the occupancy sensor, the temperature sensor, or the processor. 
 
     
     
       5. The wall switch controller of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to be compatible for installation in a conventional single-gang or multiple-gang wall box. 
 
     
     
       6. The wall switch controller of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a click-and-rotate annular ring input. 
 
     
     
       7. The wall switch controller of  claim 6 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input provides a menu-driven interface for controlling operation of the wall switch controller. 
     
     
       8. The wall switch controller of  claim 7 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input and the menu-driven interface enable remote control of a wall switch that is separate from and communicatively coupled to the wall switch controller. 
     
     
       9. The wall switch controller of  claim 6 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input enables the wall switch controller to function as a dimming light switch. 
     
     
       10. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high voltage wires, a user-removable wall-switch head unit that is configured to be user-insertable into the docking station and user-removable therefrom such that a user is not exposed to the high voltage wires when inserting or removing, wherein 
 the user-removable wall-switch head unit includes wireless communication circuitry; 
 leveraging electrical power from the high voltage wires to power the user-removable wall-switch head unit; and 
 responsive to user input, controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture; 
 communicating, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, with a plurality of low-powered devices using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates; and 
 serving, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, as a communications bridge to a wide area network using a second wireless protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, a click-and-rotate annular ring input. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input received the user input that resulted in controlling the household line current power to the household electrical fixture. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input provides a menu-driven interface. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input enables the user-removable wall-switch head unit to function as a dimming light switch. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to remotely control operation of a second wall switch that is separate from and not physically connected to the user-removable wall-switch head unit. 
     
     
       16. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-voltage wires, a user-removable wall-switch head unit that is configured to be user-insertable into the docking station and user-removable therefrom such that a user is not exposed to the high-voltage wires when inserting or removing, wherein:
 the user-removable wall-switch head unit includes wireless communication circuitry; and 
 the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to store power and use the power to maintain wireless communications during a power outage; 
 
 leveraging electrical power from the high-voltage wires to power the user-removable wall-switch head unit; and 
 responsive to user input, controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture.